Following a fall in the consolation race, the Jericho Cup was sensationally moved to the course proper at the last minute.
Matthew Mark slipped and fell turning just after they came down the hill in the paddock and crossed Tozer Road. Jockey David Mulcahy was transported to hospital with a suspected concussion.
Jockeys inspected the track before stewards ultimately deemed the paddocks unsuitable, which forced the Jericho Cup move and reduced the race distance from 4600 metres to approximately 4415 metres.
General: 30-11-2025 Warrnambool R8 – Due to track being deemed unsuitable in paddocks, race will be run on course proper over approx 4415m.
— RVStewards (@RVStewards) November 30, 2025
The shift in course did not impact the Aaron Purcell trained Farag, who became the first multiple winner of the Jericho Cup, backing up his 2024 success. Jockey Will Gordon gave the eight year old a perfect steer, settling him just behind the speed before presenting him at the top of the Warrnambool straight.
Purcell immediately paid tribute to his team.
“It’s a great effort by everyone involved. Kirsty at the stable does a fantastic hob. Peter Groidis the owner, he sourced the horse out of New Zealand and found the right horse. And obviously Will (Gordon), he gave him a ten-out-of-ten and he did the same this year.”
The Jericho is unlike any flat race on the calendar, something not lost on Purcell.
“It’s a really hard race to win.”
“Obviously the race itself is hard, but then you have to qualify along the way. It’s definitely one of the harder races to win – and to win two in a row, we’re very proud.”
Purcell paid tribute to his father, James, who was on hand to watch the victory.
“We’ve been a racing family for four or five generations. We’ve always had horses and we appreciate how hard it is to win these races. And, when it comes off, it is a little bit emotional.”
Farag epitomises the essence of the race, being a New Zealand bred galloper that now calls Australia home, which is fitting given the Jericho is rooted in ANZAC history.
